MERSING: An 11-year-old girl suffered serious injuries to her face after she was bitten by a neighbour's dog in an incident at a home in Taman Makmur, Endau, here, on Thursday.
Mersing district police chief Supt Cyril Edward Nuing said in the 7.30pm incident, the girl was playing at her neighbour's home.
"The attack was believed to have happened after the chain holding the pitbull broke off, afterwhich the dog attacked the victim.
"The dog is a mixed breed and bit the girl on her face and several parts of her body," he said in a statement, here, today.
Cyril said initial investigation found that the owner did not have a permit or license for the dog.
"The victim who suffered severe injuries to her face was taken to the Rompin Hospital for emergency treatment before she was transferred to a specialist hospital for further treatment.
"The Johor Veterinary Department is investigating and observing if the dog has symptoms of any contagious diseases.
"The case is being investigated under Section 289 of the Penal Code," he said.
It is understood that the pitbull has been the neighbour's pet for some five years.